Mandevilla plant named ‘Audrey’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Mandevilla  plant named ‘Audrey’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounded plant habit; strong stems; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; and deep red-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Mandevilla hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Audrey’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Mandevilla Plant Named ‘Ginger’.

Applicant: Graham Noel Brown.

Filed: as U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 12/291,390.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Mandevilla, botanically known as Mandevilla hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Audrey’.

The new Mandevilla plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in New South Wales, Australia. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact shrub-type Mandevilla cultivars with strong stems and numerous attractive flowers.

The new Mandevilla plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Pennant Hills, New South Wales, Australia in December, 2003, of a proprietary selection of Mandevilla hybrida identified as code number X02.5, not patented, as the female, or seed parent with Mandevilla hybrida ‘Sunmandecrim’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,539, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Mandevilla was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Macquarie Fields, New South Wales, Australia in November, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Mandevilla plant by cuttings in Macquarie Fields, New South Wales, Australia, since December, 2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Mandevilla plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Mandevilla have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Audrey’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Audrey’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Strong stems.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Deep red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla have smaller flowers than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have lighter-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘Sunmandecrim’. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ from plants of ‘Sunmandecrim’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more compact than plants of         ‘Sunmandecrim’.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla have thicker stems than plants         of ‘Sunmandecrim’.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of Mandevilla hybrida ‘Ginger’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 12/291,390 filed concurrently. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of ‘Ginger’ in flower color as plants of ‘Ginger’ have intense pink-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Mandevilla are slightly more open in plant form than plants of ‘Ginger’.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can also be compared to plants of Mandevilla splendens ‘Red Riding Hood’, not patented. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ from plants of ‘Red Riding Hood’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more compact than plants of         ‘Red Riding Hood’.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla and ‘Red Riding Hood’ differ in         flower color as plants of ‘Red Riding Hood’ have darker         pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Mandevilla plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Mandevilla plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Audrey’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flower and flower buds of ‘Audrey’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Bonsall, Calif., under commercial practice during the summer in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 35° C. and night temperatures ranged from 13° C. to 24° C. Plants were pinched one time and had been growing for 14 weeks when the description and photographs were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Mandevilla hybrida ‘Audrey’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla             hybrida identified as code number X02.5, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Mandevilla hybrida ‘Sunmandecrim’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,539. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About one month.         -   Root description.—Fleshy, thick; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant habit.—Compact, upright and mounding.         -   Growth habit.—Vigorous.         -   Plant height.—About 32 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 44 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely             branching with about five primary lateral branches per             plant. Length: About 31 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm.             Internode length: About 2.7 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 6.2 cm.         -   Width.—About 4.6 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly elliptical.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N137B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A; venation,             close to 146A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 146A; venation, close to 147D.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper surface: Close to 146B. Color, lower surface: Close to             146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Salverform flowers arranged in loose             and open racemes. Flowers face upright or outwardly. Freely             flowering habit, about 14 open flowers and flower buds per             lateral branch.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period; plants             flower from year-round in the greenhouse and from spring to             late autumn in California; flowering continuous during this             period. Plants initiate flower development about six weeks             after planting.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About three to four days;             flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Faint; floral-like, pleasant.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 14.5 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 9 cm.         -   Flowers.—Appearance: Flared trumpet, corolla fused,             five-parted; petals imbricate; flowers roughly star-shaped.             Diameter: About 7 cm. Depth (length): About 6.8 cm. Throat             diameter: About 1.7 cm. Tube length: About 7 cm. Tube             diameter, mid-section: About 1.5 cm. Tube diameter, base:             About 4 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 7.6 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm.             Shape: Elongated oblong. Color: Close to 184A to 184B.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five             petals, fused into flared trumpet; petals imbricate. Petal             lobe length: About 3 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2.6 cm.             Petal shape: Roughly elliptical. Petal apex: Acute to             acuminate. Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: Petal             lobe, when opening, upper surface: Slightly darker than 59A.             Petal lobe, when opening, lower surface: Close to 59A. Petal             lobe, fully opened, upper surface: Slightly darker and more             red than 59A; color does not fade with development. Petal             lobe, fully opened, lower surface: Close to 59A; color does             not fade with development. Tube: Towards the apex, close to             53A; mid-section, close to 145B; towards the base, close to             53B. Throat: Close to 171A.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Five per flower fused in a             single whorl. Length: About 6 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper surface:             Close to 145C. Color, lower surface: Close to 145B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6.3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Flexible, but strong.             Color: Close to 144A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Flexible, but strong.             Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             five. Filament length: About 1.5 mm. Filament color: Close             to 158C. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther size: About 2 mm             by 8 mm. Anther color: Close to 158A. Pollen amount: Scarce.             Pollen color: Close to 155A. Pistils: Quantity per flower:             Typically one. Pistil length: About 2.8 cm. Stigma shape:             Rounded. Stigma color: Close to 145A. Style length: About             2.2 cm. Style color: Close to 145D. Ovary color: Close to             146C.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Mandevilla. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from about 4° C. to about 35° C. 

1. A new and distinct Mandevilla plant named ‘Audrey’ as illustrated and described. 